A few players are coming up big time to help offset Minnesota’s lack of offseason expenditure.
Before this season, the Minnesota Twins’ front office was actively reducing salary. It was an absolutely poor way to follow up on last season’s triumph, and it remains a source of contention for fans who are still angry with how the team’s lack of mobility back then is affecting them today.
While the New York Yankees were acquiring players such as Juan Soto, the Twins let Cy Young finalist Sonny Gray walk, did not address his departure in a significant way, dealt Jorge Polanco in a sham salary dump, and made no investment in the team’s depth.
If you want to stay competitive after cutting wages, you must ensure that your bargain-basement free agents outperform their contracts while other players enjoy career years.
Despite this, the Twins have remained competitive this season. One free agent is finally performing above the value of his contract, while two other in-house players are having better-than-expected seasons.
3 Twins players who are exceeding expectations so far this season
Carlos Santana
Shortly after the Jorge Polanco trade, the Twins signed 38-year-old veteran Carlos Santana to a one-year deal worth $5.25 million. So far, Santana has outperformed his contract, as the switch-hitter has been effective on both sides of the bat. Santana has a.290 batting average versus lefties and 24 RBIs against righties.
Santana leads the Twins with 38 RBIs and is tied for the team lead with 12 home runs. His run production has been crucial in close games, boosting his WAR to 1.1.
Santana has demonstrated all of his expertise and composure in tight games, most recently with a pinch-hit walk-off against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Carlos Santana brings in Manuel Margot on the single to center field and the Twins walk off the Rays 7-6 pic.twitter.com/TAs3ePr1RC
— MLB Clutch Moments And Walk Offs (@MLBWalk_Offs) June 19, 2024
This is not the first time Santana has come up clutch this season; with runners in scoring position and two outs, he is 9-for-33 with four home runs and 14 RBIs. Furthermore, Santana is often regarded as the best pinch hitter in Major League Baseball. As a pinch hitter, he’s 4-for-7, with two home runs.
Santana may not have been the most flashy addition in the summer, but he has shown to be a vital asset to the Twins in critical moments, particularly in June. Notably, he was one of the few bright lights in the New York Yankees game earlier this month. He is now hitting.340/.411/.600 in June.
If Santana maintains these numbers, he will go down as one of the Twins’ best offseason moves in recent memory.
Griffin Jax
When it comes to reducing payroll, it’s critical to identify strong, valuable free agents like Santana while also improving players on the roster.
The Twins experienced this with Jax, a relief pitcher who has been among the best in the league.
Jax had a solid season last year, with a 3.86 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 0.7 WAR. However, this season, Jax has greatly improved on those numbers. Jax has an excellent 2.16 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and 1.1 WAR.
The Twins have struggled in the bullpen this season, but Jax has been consistent and has played a significant role in the Twins’ ability to finish games.
Joe Ryan
When the Twins let Sonny Gray leave in the summer, there were many questions about the starting pitching and who would replace him. Ryan had an impressive season, and the Twins needed him to return to his peak in 2024.
So far, he has done exactly that. Ryan leads the team with an ERA of 3.13, 95 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 0.96, ranking ninth in MLB.
It’s too early to talk about the Cy Young Award, but if Ryan can keep up these performances, he’ll be in the conversation by the conclusion of the season. At this point, one could argue that he is the Twins’ ace.
It’s always difficult when a team has its most competitive season in years and then decides to reduce money in the summer, but the Twins have done an excellent job of finding exceptional value in free agency while allowing their roster to develop. As a result, they have been able to remain in the 2024 postseason.
